Brackets for Bustos, in Chippendale Drawings, Vol. I 1754

Thomas Chippendale produced this design for ‘Brackets for Bustos’ around the mid-18th century, using pen and ink on paper. The drawing depicts three alternative designs for ornamental brackets intended to support busts or decorative objects. Made in England during the height of the Rococo period, the designs reflect the era's emphasis on elaborate ornamentation, asymmetry, and naturalistic motifs. These designs, with their flowing lines and intricate carvings, show how the wealthy would adorn their homes. The bracket’s existence is tied to the display of wealth and taste during the Georgian era. The brackets, intended for private homes, illustrate the relationship between art, design, and social status. To fully understand such an image, historians would study trade records and look at the social status of Chippendale’s patrons. Considering these perspectives, we can appreciate how designs like these reflect and reinforce the social and economic structures of their time.